As the 2nd born child of a poor Dalit family of 11 children in Nadiad, Martin Macwan was both deserving and fortunate enough to attend college and graduate in 1980 from Gujarat University with a degree in psychology. Two years later, he added a law degree from S.P. University to his curriculum. Ever since the end of his studies, he has worked extensively on the issues of rights and social justice for the minorities, be it with the Marijanas –a refugee tribe from Pakistan settled in the northern District of Banaskantha– or the tribals of Bharuch District in South Gujarat.
Between 1980 and 1982, and again between 1985 and 1989, Martin Macwan taught and worked for the Behavioural Science Centre of Ahmedabad, addressing the problems of economic and social exploitation of the Dalits, and raising awareness among their communities. Following the tragic event of Golana, he set up Navsarjan as a charitable Trust in 1988 with the intent to pursue and intensify his fight to eradicate caste discrimination.
Martin Macwan has been involved intensively with the Dalit movement both at the international and national level. As National Convenor of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) between 1999 and 2001, he led the Indian Dalit contingent to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban. Treasurer and founding trustee of the National Centre for Advocacy Studies, winner of the 2000 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award & recipient of Gleitsman Foundation’s Activist of the Year Award, he has also been honoured by Human Rights Watch.
Please, click here to view "Navsarjan Ecosan Pilot Projects in Gujarat" coordinated by Prof. Macwan.
Please click here to read Professor Macwan’s Bellagio Abstract
